Independent lawmaker Freddy Lim applies to join DPP

Taipei, Nov. 27 (CNA) Independent Legislator Freddy Lim (林昶佐) said Monday he has applied to join the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at the suggestion of its presidential hopeful, Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), and is ready to campaign for the party in the January elections.

In a Facebook post Monday evening, Lim wrote that remaining non-partisan had helped him in his international work, but because those duties had concluded in October, he was now ready to take on another role.

"At this final stage, I will stand with my partners," Lim said, and he will help, "as a member of the DPP," with the party's presidential campaign and its efforts to secure more than half of the legislative seats, the musician-turned-politician said.

"[Let's] Go all out and work hard together," he said, 47 days ahead of the Jan. 13, 2024 elections.

The 47-year-old Lim, the lead vocalist of a heavy-metal band and long-term human rights activist, helped establish the New Power Party (NPP) in 2015 and secured a legislative seat in January 2016.

Following differences with other members regarding the party's future direction, however, Lim withdrew on Aug. 1, 2019.

Despite this, he was re-elected as an independent legislator in January 2020.

In 2022, efforts by Lim's opponents to recall him for what they described as his "poor performance" failed.

Lim announced in March that he would not be running in the 2024 legislative race, due to a family illness.

The DPP currently holds 63 seats in the 113-seat Legislature, while the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) has 37, plus one ally.

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